January 17, 2013

Some of What I Know about Forcing Hyacinths

For one thing, you can't force a bulb. You can sometimes trick it into thinking it's time to bloom.

Delft Blue, chilled
and potted to bloom for Christmas, 2011.

When I compared the results of bulbs in water and stones with those in soil,
I decided to plant in soil in the future, after years of planting in stones.
The foliage is bigger and in most cases the bloom was larger and fuller. The pinks seemed not to mind being in water and stones and all had good results.

China Pink is my fav pink for forcing and Pink Pearl is my fav to plant directly in the garden.

A bulb in soil does not have to use all its energy producing a blossom, drawing
from the soil. Of course this year's bloom was formed by last year's foliage but
nutrients are available at all times for forming foliage when planted in soil.

It takes care, but bulbs forced in water can be carefully pulled from the stones and planted out to bloom again. Sometimes they skip a year's bloom. Those in soil are easily planted out. Successful garden bloom depends on having some winter chill.

I must admit, hyacinth vases full of roots in the bottom part are
interesting in winter when everything is bare outside.

China Pink

I used to put plants and bulbs I was forcing in the utility room
before I had a greenhouse. This particular year I used several
ceramic vases with narrow necks instead of hyacinth vases.

Bulbs may be purchased already prepared or given a cold period, which is what I do. I prechill my bulbs for up to 12 weeks and then plant or place in stones and water.

My hyacinths this year are very late. As a matter of fact, there are hyacinths starting to bloom in the garden while the 'forced' hyacinths are just showing buds on a few. Blue Jacket has some buds. Gypsy Queen has not yet brought forth buds and was later putting up little green tips.

Thanks for the tips. Have no hyacinths this year but I did do daffodils and some minor bulbs like scilla and grape hyacinth. They are still outside getting their cold treatment. I will start bringing them into the greenhouse once it is completed.

Most people just toss the bulbs that were grown in vases, Autumn Belle. I've had good success in carefully planting them in soil after the blossoms fade -- I cut off the dead blooms and leave the stem -- so they can repeat their growth cycle and produce next year's blossom. I plant them shallower than recommended because they will pull themselves down into the soil. Usually there's a small bloom the next year and the second year they're back to normal, even dividing.

They will have to have some winter chill to bloom again. We have enough freezing nights here to make them happy.

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A gardeners garden is often like an artist's house. Messy, imperfect, but perfectly interesting. This garden is a wreck - as you will see, but while some may see only imperfection, others may see curious plants and an interesting life. Take your pick.